Yoga on the beach provides new twist

Yoga teacher Gina Engel leads the class in gentle warm-ups on a recent Wednesday morning. Sunrise on the beach is a great time to bend, stretch, reach, and proclaim the day a positive one.

At least as far as Regina Engel and many other early risers are concerned. Engel runs yoga on the beach every Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. in Sholan Park at Lake Waushacum.

"This is only my second yoga class," said Sterling resident Dotty Kormeluk, a student of Engel's. "It's peaceful, and here at the lake it is just beautiful in the morning. The motivation of the class makes me commit to it each and every week."

On a recent morning, a small girl played quietly in the early morning tide with her beach pail while a dozen women of varying ages twisted their bodies into a plethora of shapes. The meditative silence of the group was punctuated only by the song of nearby birds.

"I signed up for this class because it was on the lake," said Beth Stephenson of Sterling. "I had done a few sun salutations in the past as part of a camp for Mass Audubon, but this is my first class. When I found out it was outside, it made all of the difference. This is just a wonderful way to start the day."

Steve King photo Engel has been involved in yoga since she was very young and began teaching in 1996. She currently teaches at Central Mass Yoga in West Boylston and Opening Lotus in Holden.

There are so many different ways to experience yoga. For some it is a great form of exercise, for others it supplies a quiet time, and for still others it's a way of viewing the world.

"Namaste" is a powerful phrase used in yoga as a greeting. It means "the best of me sees only the best in you."

"Yoga is about finding your own peace and self-acceptance without relying on others. We may do it through the body, but it involves so much more than that," Engel explained.

The breathing exercises, known as pranayama, teach folks to relax, and the various poses like Pigeon and Downward Dog strengthen muscles. All of the poses have adaptations for those who fear they might hurt themselves.

Some of the moves may leave you feeling as though you are winning at a game of Twister, but in reality you are developing many muscle groups, Engel noted.

According to Engel, most all students report feeling happier and sleeping better after a few yoga classes.

"Yoga has its own spirituality. It helps you think about your own inner peace. The stillness helps you to see into yourself. In normal life, busyness allows you to distract yourself from yourself. The silence and stillness make you more aware," Engel said.

The Sterling Recreation Department holds yoga classes year-round.

"Unfortunately we can only be at the lake in the summer," Engel said, "but we do have a nice group of ladies and a good mix of new participants and those with experience."